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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The Second Avenue Subway project is ready to go into its second phase.

As WCBS 880’s Jim Smith reported Saturday, residents and business owners on the Upper East Side all have something to be thankful for as the holiday approaches this year – peace and quiet. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority said all blasting operations for phase one of the subway project are finished.

The agency also said heavy construction at the 96th Street station is also mostly complete.

By the end of 2016, the plan is to extend the Q Line up Second Avenue, with stations at 72nd, 86th and 96th streets.

The ultimate goal is to create a new T Line, which will run alongside the extended Q Line between 125th and 72nd streets, and continue southward along the East Side all the way south to Hanover Square.

The MTA said phase one is still on time and on budget.

The Second Avenue Subway will carry more than 200,000 residents and commuters each day once it is completed.